My Turn at 30

Monday, September 19, 2011

1. The illness I live with is: Type 1 Diabetes. Sweets is the one who HAS Type 1. But we all live with it.

2. Sweets was diagnosed with it on: April 27, 2009 at 3 years and 1 month old.

3. Sweets had symptoms since: Hmmm.... She was sick A LOT the previous winter. I started noticing the soaked diapers, thirst, and irritability a couple of months before - probably around late January or February. Noticed weight loss in March. The two days before her diagnosis, she was throwing up. Boy, writing this makes me feel like a really stellar Mom.

4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: Living with no sleep. I'm someone who needs a good, solid 8 hours of sleep each night. I can't remember the last time I slept for 8 hours without having to get up at least once or twice.

5. Most people assume:I know what I'm doing. I try - but D throws you curve balls that you don't expect and each day is a learning experience where you just try your best and then hope for the best!

6. The hardest part about mornings are: Getting up. It's the sleep thing. I'm so tired. Mornings have always been hard. Now they are impossible. Getting up, dressed, getting her up, dressed, tested, fed, bloused, and to school on time is quite a feat.

7. My favorite medical TV show is: I don't watch medical shows. Too much real life medical. I prefer crime dramas like The Closer or funny stuff like Modern Family or How I Met Your Mother or anything on HGTV.

8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: The Omnipod! I could not live without her insulin pump! And the Omnipod is the pump and meter all in one! LOVE IT!

9. The hardest part about nights are:The fear. It seems worse at night. Maybe it's because you don't have eyes on them or something? I hate it when I'm so exhausted and NEED to sleep but I'm too afraid to let myself because I don't know whats going to happen or her number is too low or.....

11. Regarding alternative treatments I: Get really, really offended when people suggest that if she would just eat more cinnamon or less carbs or take some herb or vitamin or whatever she would be cured. I want to scream, "Don't you think if it was that easy that we would have tried it already?!?"

12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: Invisible. At least you can hide it if you want to. It presents it's own sets of problems but at least you have the choice.

13. Regarding working and career: I work. I'm a teacher. And it's really, really hard to balance it. It's really hard to teach AND manage D at school - although I'm blessed to be able to do it. We make it work. We have to- I carry the insurance!
As for Sweets... She will be whatever she sets her mind on. Right now she says she wants to be a teacher in the morning and a doctor in the afternoon. Which is funny because that is EXACTLY what I said I wanted to be at her age. Only she wants to be an endocrinologist and I had no idea what that was at her age. Lucky me.

14. People would be surprised to know: That Jason probably worries more than I do. Especially at night.

15. The hardest thing to accept about Sweetpea's new reality has been: That it isn't going away. And no matter how perfect I do things, it can still go horribly wrong. No matter how hard I try, I can't control this disease.

16. Something I never thought Sweets could do with her illness that she did was:I don't know. I have always believed that she could do anything. We flew to Florida two months after dx. It was a challenge - but it was great and we totally rocked it!

17. The commercials about Sweetpea's illness: What commercials? Unless I'm watching D Life, all I see are commercials about Type 2. She doesn't have Type 2, thankyouverymuch.

25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: My favorite quotes change all the time with whatever is going on in our lives. Here are few favorites...

26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them:You Can Do This! And you WILL do this. It never really gets easier.... YOU just get better. And you may not believe me now, but you will. Trust me.

27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: The generosity that people show to us. Whether it's raising money or offering to help... It's overwhelming! I am surprised how every Type 1 I know is just plain AMAZING. EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. They are all incredible people - full of grace and strength. And finally, I'm surprised at how strong I am. I never would have guessed it...

28. The nicest thing someone did for me when he wasn’t feeling well was: People sent her gifts when we were in the hospital. I really don't think they knew how much it meant to all of us. It was wonderful to have the distraction of a gift and something new to do and play with. It was definitely a gift from the heart.

29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: It's important. It's important for people to learn that our kids might not look sick.... And they aren't sick.... But they deal with things that would blow your mind.

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* Disclaimer *

I am not a doctor. I just play one in real life!

I am happy to share with you what works (and what does not) for us as we do battle with Diabetes. However, keep in mind that this is just my opinion and should, in no way, be taken as professional medical advice.

Please contact your doctor or endocrinology team before changing your current treatment.